3 Reasons to Add More Avocados to Your Diet

Avocados

There is evidence that humans started cultivating avocados as long ago as 5,000 BC, and in modern times they are both a popular food source and an ingredient commonly added to a wide range of cosmetics. You may never have given avocados much thought beyond as an ingredient in guacamole, but did you know that they have many health-boosting properties? Here are three reasons why you should add more avocados to your diet.

1. Avocados are a good source of healthy fats

Although avocados are high in fats and thus may initially appear to be a food to be avoided when trying to eat healthily, that isn't the case at all.

Fats are actually an essential part of the diet that the body requires to function properly, fats - approximately 65 percent, in fact. Research has shown that monosaturated fats may lower bad cholesterol and can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Mediterranean cuisine, often noted for being healthy, is high in monounsaturated fats.

2. Avocados are rich in dietary fiber: Why should that matter to you?

Fiber is necessary for maintaining good digestive health; it adds bulk to stools, making them smoother and easier to pass, and is helpful for preventing constipation. Making sure that your diet is rich in fiber has an added benefit: as it keeps you feeling full for longer, it can help you to maintain a healthy weight by reducing the urge to snack on unhealthy foods between meals.

In fact, research has shown that children who were given half an avocado a day for lunch staved off feelings of hunger for longer than those without. Avocados are chock-full of vitamins and minerals If you're looking for a food source that contains many health, look no further.

3. Avocados contain approximately 20 vitamins and minerals, making them a valuable addition to your diet.

Avocados are particularly high in vitamin C, which is vital for a number of functions in the body. Vitamin C is important for tissue function and repair as it is essential for the production of collagen, the main structural protein found in connective tissues such as bones, cartilage, ligaments, and blood.

Vitamin C also aids neurological and immune system function, as well as increasing the amount of iron the body is able to absorb from plant sources. Avocados are also a very good source of potassium, a mineral that is necessary for all living cells and vital for the heart, kidneys and other organs to function correctly.